Unfair but balanced commentary on tax and budget policy, contemporary U.S. politics and culture, and whatever else happens to come up

Wednesday, February 06, 2013

A rare (at least lately) musical post

Fiona Apple's new album, which I like, got me listening to her previous records, which I also like. Heartfelt, piano-pounding singer-songwriters aren't always my thing. But if you compare her, say, to Carole King, not only does she do pretty well (although King at her early peak was great), but it even makes the modern era come off pretty well compared to back then. Apple is fanciful and all over the place in a good way that one might not have found from her precursors, or at least the commercially viable ones.

Here's a version of one of her best songs, from the Letterman show, with an amusing but somewhat sad short interview at the end.

About Me

I am the Wayne Perry Professor of Taxation at New York University Law School. My research mainly emphasizes tax policy, government transfers, budgetary measures, social insurance, and entitlements reform. My most recent books are (1) Decoding the U.S. Corporate Tax (2009) and (2) Taxes, Spending, and the U.S. Government's March Toward Bankruptcy (2006). My other books include Do Deficits Matter? (1997), When Rules Change: An Economic and Political Analysis of Transition Relief and Retroactivity (2000), Making Sense of Social Security Reform (2000), Who Should Pay for Medicare? (2004), Taxes, Spending, and the U.S. Government's March Towards Bankruptcy (2006), Decoding the U.S. Corporate Tax (2009), and Fixing the U.S. International Tax Rules (forthcoming). I am also the author of a novel, Getting It. I am married with two children (boys aged 24 and 21) as well as three cats. For my wife Pat's quilting blog, see Patwig’s Blog.